N.Z. Cup main mission for Race Ruler

Press, 27 January 1988, Page 39

N.Z. Cup main mission for Race Ruler

Special correspondent Auckland Now that trainer Joe Goodyer has failed in his attempt to have Race Ruler ready for next month’s $150,000 New Zealand Messenger Championship, he has set his sights quite early on the 1988 New Zealand Cup at Addington.

A decision was made to spell the brilliant Race Ruler last week after the horse failed to shake off the effects of a niggling tendon injury which has restricted him to just two starts this season.

The Noodluni four-year-old lashed out and kicked a rail at Goodyer’s Taupiri stables in early December.

The injury did not appear as serious as first thought when Race Ruler was nominated and accepted for the $lO,OOO

Sylon Classic at Alexandra Park on December 19.

But, after looking uncomfortable , during his preliminary, Race Ruler was scratched minutes, before the start of the event.

A five-week swimming course followed in an attempt to get Race Ruler fit to compete at the Messenger meeting, but, offloading pressure onto his “good” leg saw the horse’s soreness linger. “We did everything we could' to get him there (to the Messenger),” said Goodyer’s wife, Hillary, yesterday. “His blood was tip-top and he’d been working brilliantly. “He had been given a lot of swimming until about a fortnight ago, that’s all he did for about five weeks, and then he had a couple of runs on the track. “After the workouts he

was still sore, but holding. “Joe’s very disappointed, especially after putting all that work in.

“He (Race Ruler) was just so well when he hurt himself. You can keep horses for age-group races like the Messenger, but when something like this happens you can’t help thinking maybe we should have started him earlier, just so he wouldn’t have been so above himself.”

Race Ruler, according to Mrs Goodyer, will be spelled for at least two months, possibly three — “at least until the leg comes right.” This also leaves Race Ruler out of calculations for the rich Lion Red Mile Series at Alexandra Park in late March, early April.

Race Ruler is assessed at C 9, making him one win short of open class. “Joe’s aiming him for

the New Zealand Cup in December, that’s Race Ruler’s main mission now,” said Mrs Goodyer. “He still has to win another race to qualify though.” In the meantime, precautions have been taken to ensure a repeat of Race Ruler’s disastrous campaign this season does not eventuate.

“All the fences around the place have been electrified,” said Mrs Goodyer. “And mattresses have been put all round his box, so there’s no chance of him hurting himself now.” Race Ruler’s defection from the TNT-sponsored New Zealand Messenger appears to have left the way clear for the outstanding mare, Bionic Chance, and another South Island contender, Rostriever Hanover, to dispute the favouritism.